Football
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Steven Gerrard: Liverpool very lucky to beat QPR, Raheem Sterling relieved

Steven Gerrard admitted Liverpool were lucky to come away from Loftus Road with all three points after an injury-time own goal from QPR centre-back Steven Caulker gave the Reds a 3-2 victory on Sunday.

Eduardo Vargas' two late goals had the hosts edging towards a creditable draw, only for Caulker to put through his own net in the fourth minute of added time.

Richard Dunne's own goal put QPR behind midway through the second half before Vargas notched his first goal in English football to equalise with three minutes remaining, only for Philippe Coutinho's deflected effort to restore the Reds' lead.

Vargas put QPR back on level terms moments later, but Liverpool sneaked the final word and the points, with Caulker the luckless fall guy in the final seconds.

Gerrard was not impressed by Liverpool's performance and felt his side would have had no complaints had they left west London pointless.

"We're still in shock to be honest. We're very lucky today," he told Sky Sports.

"We would have had no complaints if we came away with nothing, we would have no complaints if we came away with a point. I think we're very lucky to come away with three points.

"Our performance needs to be better. I think the only credit we can give ourselves is that we never give up and keep going to the end.

"We got rewarded in the end for hanging in and staying in the game but all around it needs improving."

Raheem Sterling, who started for Liverpool against his old club after the controversy over his England omission last Sunday, admitted he was pleased to be back playing football.

The winger has been an almost permanent fixture on the back pages following England manager Roy Hodgson's revelation that the player had complained of tiredness prior to the Euro 2016 qualifier away to Estonia, but Sterling was simply happy to be back playing on Sunday.

"It's always good to play football and it's no different this week," he said. "The manager put me out there and I'm just happy that we got the three points."

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